KATANAGATARI 2

“Hey Togame─what’s Bird Unit?”

“Oh…didn’t we go over this? The Twelve Bosses of the Maniwa Clan are split into four groups of three: Bird Unit Maniwa, Beast Unit Maniwa, Fish Unit Maniwa, and Bug Unit Maniwa─Komori Maniwa was from the Beast Unit, Kuizame Maniwa was from the Fish Unit…and Shirasagi Maniwa, and I guess this guy, both belong to the Bird Unit.”

“Ah, same unit as Shirasagi.”

“Yes, but don’t get careless, Shichika. This man is a cut above the other eleven Bosses.”

Hohoh Maniwa. The Phoenix.

A bird, to be sure, but out of all the Bosses, he was the only who used an imaginary creature for a namesake─the Divine18 Phoenix.

“No need to be alarmed, at least not here and now. I meant what I wrote. I merely came here to have a word with you, Madame Schemer.”

“And why should I believe that?” spat Togame. “Do you realize what I’ve been through thanks to all of you? Do you realize how unwillingly I acquiesce?”

“You’re here, aren’t you? The fact you came all the way out here suggests, to me, a willingness to talk things over.”

“If I had my way, I would steer clear of any dealings with the Maniwa─but once I knew that you were here, I had to take you down.19 You could only be a nuisance to our Sword Hunt. Pests need to be exterminated before things get out of control.”

“An arm…”

Hohoh raised his left arm─toward Togame.

“If you will hear me out, I’ll chop off my left arm.”

“…?!”

“Just listen, and one of the Twelve Bosses of the Maniwa…effectively the head of the entire clan, as you so nicely put it, will cut off his own arm. No pressure to go along with anything, you understand─just hear me out, and come to your own conclusion, Madame Schemer. If you’ll only listen, then my arm is yours. How about it?”

“H-How about it?”

Togame’s perturbation was not lost on Shichika. What on earth did Hohoh have in mind? It wasn’t like the man was carrying a sword─how was he going to cut off his own arm?

Before Togame had a chance to answer.

Hohoh raised his right hand high, poised rigid as a blade─and let it drop just shy of his shoulder.20

The blade of his hand.

Just like in the Kyotoryu─except.

When his hand met the base of his arm, it chopped straight through!

“Wha…”

“E-Eek─”

While the Kyotoryu enabled Shichika to wield his hands and feet, nay, his whole body like a katana, his so-called blades were not actually sharp, and lacked a cutting edge. At the end of the day, he was playacting as a sword. Hohoh Maniwa, on the other hand, had severed his own limb, true to his word.

While Togame and Shichika exchanged looks of trepidation─

Hohoh calmly wrapped his chains around the gushing wound, as a tourniquet. Nothing changed in his expression. It appeared he did not feel a thing, at least from the way he held himself.

His left arm, on the ground…

Twitched21 and convulsed, as if possessed of a life of its own, but eventually it fell still. Only moments prior, this had been an integral part of his body, but Hohoh showed no interest in the dismembered limb.

He merely shot a cool glance at Togame.

“There─if you wish, I will chop off my right arm as well. How about it?”

“No…”

Togame gulped─but managed a response to Hohoh, in a voice void of emotion.

“Enough of that, I’ll listen─assuming you won’t mind if Shichika stays put?”

“By all means. He can listen too. So you’re Shichika Yasuri, Seventh Master of the Kyotoryu? The one who sent Komori and Shirasagi…along with Kuizame to the next world?”

“Precisely,” confirmed Togame.

“Actually…”

Shichika wanted to say it wasn’t him who took down Shirasagi and Kuizame, but when Togame flashed that evil eye of hers, he shut his mouth. Apparently, she was ready to take credit for their deaths as if her bodyguard (and not Ginkaku Uneri and Meisai Tsuruga, respectively) had killed them.

It could benefit her “negotiations” with Hohoh.

“I’ve lost contact with Chocho Maniwa, Mitsubachi Maniwa, and Kamakiri Maniwa, all three members of the Bug Unit─do I have you, Madame Schemer, to thank for that?”

“What? No, I know not of what you speak.”

Naturally, Togame was familiar with the Bug Unit.

From the way Hohoh phrased his question, she surmised that Chocho, Mitsubachi, and Kamakiri were gone─in other words, they had lost their lives while hunting down the swords. Taking credit for their passing too was untenable, however, and she had opted for an honest answer.

The fact that the Bug Unit had been thrashed by Shichika’s older sister, Nanami, head of the Yasuri family, was not yet known to any present party.

“Is that so.”

Hohoh Maniwa did not force the issue.

“In any case,” he resumed after a pause, “I’ll have you know that the Twelve Bosses of the Maniwa Clan have been reduced by half in only half a year. At this point, I must say, we would have done well to swear off the Kiki Shikizaki blades. Our decision to betray you, Madame Schemer, was an error.”

“…”

“At least, it may have been.”

Hohoh observed Togame as he spoke.

His eye contact was fierce─and cold, as if having chopped off his own left arm were no longer on his mind.

“Then again, with the awful state of Maniwa Village, we hardly had a choice─though we’ll not speak of that. We cannot turn back the hands of time, and our only hope is for the six of us to muddle through somehow.”

“Can you? Or more importantly─think we’ll let you?”

“Let us, no. With the owners─for Zokuto the Armor, that means Kanara Azekura─you two, and us ninjas locked in a three-way struggle, we cannot see this Sword Hunt through. Which brings us to the crux of our discussion, Madame Schemer. Care to forge a temporary alliance with the Maniwa?”

“A-Alliance?”

Shichika was startled, but that didn’t even begin to describe how Togame felt. After cutting ties so absolutely─why bother with a mock alliance now?

“Sirrah─did you come all the way to Kyushu just to make a fool of me?”

“On the contrary. I’m merely saying we would do well to avoid unnecessary conflict─if the word ‘alliance’ leaves a bad taste in your mouth, why not call it an armistice?22 That way you can focus on your Sword Hunt, Madame Schemer, while the Maniwa focuses on our own. That way we can avoid these useless duels and stop attacking one another. Know what I mean?”

“If only things could be resolved so easily─but we are chasing after the same thing. If we meet near one of the Mutant Blades, we have no choice but to clash swords.”

“While it may seem that we are after the same thing, Madame Schemer, that is not exactly true. Your mission is to hunt down all of the Twelve Possessed, whereas we would be overjoyed to capture two or even three. Of course, the more the better─but we see no need to hunt down every single one.”

“…Point being?”

“Point being─perhaps there is a way to do this without fighting. For example, we could resume our hunt from the opposite end of the map.”

“Are you proposing─we avoid direct contact entirely?”

“Exactly.”

“…”

Togame glared at Hohoh─thinking it over.

Not to sound like Azekura had the night before, but this was not such a bad deal. With three of the Bosses dead─six, if she believed Hohoh─the Maniwa had every reason to beg, and it would be a huge help if she could carry out her Sword Hunt without the ninjas interfering.

That said, the deal was not without its disadvantages.

No disruption from the Maniwa also meant letting them carry on with their own Sword Hunt. This was tantamount to giving them a head start on several of the swords─

However.

Come to think of it, there was only one sword left, apart from Zokuto the Armor, whose whereabouts she had ascertained but had yet to capture─Togame had no idea where, in all Japan, the other six might be. Not like she had nowhere to start, but the reconnaissance would put a burden on their progress.

In which case, she could delegate the unknowns to the Maniwa, while she and Shichika pursued the one sword they had a lead on. An alliance was off the table, but an armistice was not to be dismissed. Permitting the Maniwa to do their own thing for a little while longer was a fitting enough strategy.

If the Maniwa failed to track down the lost swords, no harm done. Nay, for just as Togame, in her Sword Hunt, had profited thus far from the errors of the Old Shogun, she stood to benefit further from the ninjas’ missteps, for an even smoother process down the line.

And if the Maniwa succeeded in obtaining any of the Twelve Possessed, all the better. She need only seize them from the Maniwa, and the success was hers! The challenge was to catch the ninjas before they vanished, and establishing the whereabouts of the swords would be most convenient!

“…”

Shichika was turned off by the air of villainy wafting from Togame, but Hohoh Maniwa, who had come with the offer, had not arrived at this discussion without indulging his imagination to a similar degree. Indeed, the Maniwa, in their own right, could see this armistice as most convenient. They could let Togame the Schemer and her bodyguard Shichika gather all the swords─then cash them out23 when they were through, making things far more efficient and practical.

Overjoyed to capture two or even three─a nice idea, but not to be trusted. No more than cajolery, aimed at making her cooperate.

If greed were gold.

The Maniwa would be richer than all the bandits and the pirates.

These were the masterworks of Kiki Shikizaki─surely they would not give up the fight until every last one of the Twelve Possessed was theirs.

Since their motives were identical, a final showdown24 was inevitable.

It may be time to check up on the Shikizaki blades we’ve already delivered to Owari…

With Togame thus preoccupied.

Hohoh shared another thought.

“Of course,” he said, “if our negotiations come to nothing─I will have no choice but to fight you, after all…as much as I do not wish to.”

“…”

“To think how close you are to capturing Zokuto the Armor. You wouldn’t want to spoil that over a fuss with me.”

“Is that a threat?”

“No threat─not yet.”

Hohoh spoke in measured tones, without a hint of violence.

I mistrust negotiations that proceed at a clip, whether I like the sound of it or not─a policy is one thing, but Togame was not in a position to simply disregard his offer.

Refuse, and she was asking Hohoh for the battle to begin.

Yet his strength in battle was an unknown quantity25─if severing his own arm with the blade of his hand were any indication, the best thing going for him was his creepiness. Cutting off your own arm is no way to get the upper hand.26

Then, for now…

“Soto the Twin,” Togame said.

“Huh?”

“The last of the swords whose whereabouts I know─I suppose that means that I’ll be heading for it next. If you go after any of the other swords, we won’t cross paths.”27

“Do you agree to an alliance?”

“Not an alliance. An armistice.”

“Music to my ears.”28 Whether or not he meant these words sincerely, it was hard to say, but Hohoh took a stance of gratitude. “Thank you kindly. And where might Soto the Twin be?”

“I see no need to tell you that─I know you’re asking out of more than curiosity. How can I be sure that you won’t beat us there, while we are occupied with capturing the Armor?”

“Right, I never should have asked. Your consent29 is the best that we could expect. And now that you’ve consented, I’ll convene a meeting with the other Bosses. As you may know, to boost morale, the Bosses are competing to see who can snatch up the most swords─it was actually my idea, but I think it’s time we called it off. Now that our numbers have been halved, the competition has lost its sporting premise…but Madame Schemer. To thank you for agreeing to my selfish proposition, how about some intelligence.”

“Intelligence?”

“Trust us at your own risk─but in Mt. Shirei in Mutsu, and Tendo in Dewa, and in Edo, you can find three more of the Twelve Possessed of Kiki Shikizaki. What you will find, and where to find it, is more than I can say, but even if one of them happens to be Soto the Twin, that’s two more swords for you.”

“In Mutsu, and Dewa. And in Edo─Edo?”

For a thank you, this was a boon of information. So far as Togame was concerned, Soto the Twin was across the waters, up in Ezo. In other words─she had just gotten a lead on not just two, but three more of the swords─

That is, if Hohoh was telling the truth.

But why lie now?

“Those three are the only swords that I can speak to. If I join forces with the other Bosses, and we concentrate on tracking down the other three, I see no reason why we wouldn’t stay out of each other’s way. Do you?”

“No─but…”

“But what? Still distraught? You want some more intelligence?”

Not distraught, so much as distrustful.30

Nevertheless, Hohoh was fixing to toss her some more information. His generosity was beginning to feel creepy─surely he was up to something.

And yet the next words he uttered blew her distrust out of the water.

“Back in Owari─Princess Negative has started making moves.”

“…What!”

As evinced by her reaction─Togame was aghast. Shichika didn’t understand Hohoh’s remark, but the noise she made was enough to spook him.

Princess Negative?

Never heard of her.

Not once had Togame mentioned such a person.

But now Togame lost her mind on Hohoh.

“Fool─I’ve shut her mouth once and for all.”

“Sure. We’re the ones who got the job done, so no need to remind me─but it seems that she has capitalized on your absence from Owari.”

“Tsk!” Togame clicked her tongue loudly, making a sour face. “Each time I think I’ve finished her, she just pops up again. I thought I’d seen the last of her, that nasty woman. Ugh!”

“Look who’s talking, she might say…” Hohoh Maniwa cracked a smirk. Togame’s hissy fit was too funny.

“Well? What sort of moves is she making?”

“Who knows? It’s hardly our concern─though neither of us wants another party vying for the Shikizaki blades. We have no interest in meddling with infighting in the bakufu, but if we need to, we’re prepared to jump into the fray.”

“…In that case, I would be much obliged,” Togame said to Hohoh, once she had settled down. “For the time being, I’ll need to trust you─but enemies we remain. If you break our pact and interrupt my Sword Hunt, on purpose or by accident, then I promise you, my sword will cut you down.”

“Understood─so long, then.”

Hohoh seemed to have had enough parleying for one day. Without hearing a reply to his farewell, tarrying not one bit, he turned to make his leave, ignoring the arm sitting on the ground.

Shichika had a question.

Who on earth was Princess Negative?

From what they had been saying, it sounded like she was also from the bakufu?

But Hohoh stopped midstride and interrupted Shichika just as he was about to open his mouth.

“Oh, one more thing, Madame Schemer─it seems you have a habit of saying ‘Cheerio!’ before you punch your employee. When I heard that from Komori, I knew something was wrong, but when I made it here to Satsuma, I finally figured it out. You mixed it up with Chesuto.”

■　■

Togame─Grand Commander of Arms of the Yanari Shogunate Military Directorate─ran off.

All out.

Full speed.

Exhausting every effort, she ran.

But remember, this was an exhaustive effort from Togame, who took pride in her eschewal of armaments. The strength of her arms and legs was average, or subpar at the very best─yet she summoned all her strength, and purged her stores of every kind of energy, dashing across the meadow.

Leaving Hohoh Maniwa far behind.

She may have missed the rest of his invaluable explanation.

“‘Cheerio’ is something said in foreign lands, instead of ‘Sayonara.’”

Her splendid finery in total disarray.

Her signature white hair in disarray.

She ran like mad, full tilt31─nowhere special, anywhere but here.

“Waaaaaaaaahhh! No no no no no no no no! You got me wrong, you got me all wrong!”

Crying out to no one in particular.

A wailing of the soul, to shake the heart of all who listened.

“Wait, wait, wait a sec! I can explain!”

Wait? But it was Togame who had bolted. That line belonged to her retainer Shichika, who was chasing after her. While he had confidence in his abilities, Togame gave him a run for his money. Her speed made her seem possessed.32

Plus, he’d had a late start, reluctant to just leave the Maniwa standing there. Hohoh had said, “Go ahead and chase her,” which Shichika had done, though not because the ninja told him to. At this rate, she was bound to throw herself into the sea.

Of course it had to be the Maniwa who set her straight. That surely made the gaffe feel even worse.

“No, no, wait! Please, hear me out! You’ve got it wrong─all wrong!”

More wailings of the soul.

When she closed her eyes, her thoughts returned to her exchange with Shichika three months ago, while walking in Inaba Desert. He’d asked her what she meant by “Cheerio.”

Here is what she had said:

It’s my catchphrase.

Unsurprisingly, Shichika asked what she meant by this. Didn’t sound like Japanese.

As if an island monkey can judge.

I’ll have you know that it’s a grand old saying.

Favored by the warriors of Satsuma in Kyushu as a battle cry─you might call it their kiai.

And to sum things up:

It suits my personality exactly.

“Personality? Give me a break!” Togame took a jab at herself, three months too late.

Which is when Shichika, whose innate strength could not be bested by this pageant of despair, finally caught up with Togame. He was close enough to reach out and touch her, but refrained, not knowing how she might react to contact.

“Hey, Togame─”

“Don’t talk to me!” she screeched. “I’m not stupid! Okay? I’m not stupid! I’m not embarrassed. I’m not embarrassing! Nor am I confused. H-H-He’s the one who’s confused!”

She was blaming everything on Hohoh. And yet she kept on running─suggesting that the revelation had struck a nerve.

Her scarlet face nearly burst into flame.

Her entire body slimed with sweat.

Rather than catch Togame from behind, Shichika decided he would pass her, then circle back and stop her in her tracks.

“Gadzooks!”

Since Togame was running with her eyes practically closed, she ran straight into his open arms─but her force, which he had woefully underestimated, knocked him flat.

Togame sat astride him as if were a horse.

“Hmph, ugh, ughhh…”

Shockingly─

Togame the Schemer was bawling her eyes out.

Spilling unapologetic, shameless tears, she clenched her teeth.

“Ugh, argh…ughhhhhhhhhhhh!”

“Come on, seriously?”

“Shut up! I hate you!”

She sounded like a little kid.

She made fists and pummeled Shichika, taking all her anger out on him─but he sat back and let her punch away. For one thing, the punches were not going to hurt him, but more than that, he was astonished at Togame, whose face was psychopathic.33